What mothers are saying...

Sarah's prenatal yoga class is much more than just a great yoga class for pregnant women in all stages. In each class she takes the time to create a warm accepting community of women where everyone feels accepted and has an opportunity to ask questions or share about whatever is going on with their pregnancy and their body.  In addition to yoga instruction, Sarah provides a wealth of knowledge about local birth services and resources including Doulas and Massage Therapists.  She is extremely knowledgeable and very approachable.  Lastly, Sarah asks pregnant moms to send in their birth stories (if they choose) so she can read them to the class. Hearing the birth stories of other women really helps make the birthing process less mysterious and intimidating, especially when these stories are from women you know from class.  Finding and joining her class when we moved here during my pregnancy was the best thing I did.
{Penelope}

I am forever grateful to you for your guidance and wisdom.  You and your yoga class played a key part in helping me prepare for her birth, to become aware of and understand my fears and concerns, to develop a realistic and productive set of expectations about labor, and to find a sense of calm and ability throughout pregnancy and birth.  I hope you know what a treasure you are, as an educator, advocate, and friend.
{Lori}

Sarah’s class gave me what I didn’t even know I needed: to discover other mamas’ experiences with pregnancy, labor and birth (the “wide range of normal”); to understand pregnancy, labor, and birth as transformative experiences in and of themselves, rather than stages to just get through; to decompress each week in a supportive community; and to find strength in myself and trust in my baby. The class also gave me the courage not to settle for providers that I didn’t feel comfortable with, and information about other options. My experience of labor, birth, and recovery was incredible, with warm, supportive, and patient people – without a doubt in large part to MamaBirth yoga. I’m so grateful for the class, for Sarah, and for the friendships I’ve formed with other warrior mamas.
{Abbey}

Attending MamaBirth YOGA class during my pregnancy was a wonderful experience.  Not only did it help me connect with my body and my baby, but with a community of mothers.  Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and compassion to every one of her classes.  The poses and mantras from class helped me tremendously during the birth of my son.  I highly recommend this class to all expectant mothers.
{Nicole}

I am so grateful for the community of mamas that Sarah has brought together here with MamaBirth YOGA classes.  There is nothing else like this in the Syracuse area.  I was excited by the name of the classes.  I felt that "MamaBirth" honors the transformation from woman to mother.   We are born as a mother when our baby arrives, just as new, hopeful and in need of growing.  When I walked into Sarah's class for the first time I felt I had come home.  I had felt so isolated during my early pregnancy and suddenly I was among twenty amazing mamas.  Each of us finding our way, each of us excited and nervous-there was amazing beauty and power in that room.  Sarah created a most sacred space for reflection, education and healing movement.  Sarah is highly knowledgeable about yoga and the child birthing cycle. She is well connected to the birth workers in our area and can connect mamas with doulas, chiropractors and local birth and motherhood events.  When Sarah teaches she is able to elicit empowerment through yoga by teaching women how to tune into their highest consciousness and trust the wisdom of their bodies.  My experience in class helped smooth out my pregnancy aches as well as my fear as I approached labor.  I used movements and information learned in class during my labor.  I was inspired by all of the amazing warrior mamas I had practiced with in class. It was their spirit, as well as Sarah's guidance, that helped me make my transformation into Mom.
{Kara - RYT 200 hr, Apprentice Teacher with MBY and past student}

I had never practiced yoga prior to going to MamaBirth YOGA and I was more than pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it! Sarah is incredible - she's personable and knowledgeable and provides a safe place for expectant mamas to bond and practice yoga together. I have learned so much to help relieve the typical aches and pains of pregnancy and am feeling more and more confident about my upcoming delivery as a result of this class. I highly recommend it to any mama-to-be!
{Courtney - during pregnancy}

I remember telling my self over and over to keep my mouth and tongue relaxed (thank you for that tip!) as it would help my cervix to open and relax.  Also, with every contraction I had, I told myself that it was one contraction I never had to have again.  These mental reminders from your class really helped me get through labor.  Rather than feeling exhausted and disconnected, as I did after my first birth, I felt energized and empowered.  I still can't believe that I had the strength to do what I did.  Thank you so much for everything throughout my pregnancy.  I truly feel that yoga helped me to have a better birth experience and for that, I am incredibly grateful.  We're hoping to have a third child at some point so if we do, I'll definitely be back for more yoga!
{Courtney - after giving birth}

I am so thankful to have been taking prenatal yoga classes with my dear friend Sarah upon retuning to Syracuse.  This practice truly helped me to connect to myself and my baby, a grounding force in the sea of unsettling unknowns that had shaken us out of our bliss tree.  In class, I felt at peace with the unknown.  I could trust in myself as a mother.  I could trust in birth.  I could trust in my baby.  I could TRUST.  I took that with me when I left class and would carry it with me beyond the studio.  I carried it with me into a calm, collected and self assured labor and birth.  Even further, I carry that practice with me into mothering my blessed babes.
{Teresa}

I can't tell you how important prenatal yoga was to me during my pregnancy and during labor and now continuing into motherhood. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful place to rejuvenate each week and the tools I needed to get through labor.  I’m really glad Carmen was so overdue because it let me get to one more yoga class, when I was 41 weeks. At that class you taught us the mantra about the steady and joyful seat. I focused on that mantra, which I remembered as “sriram sukam asanam.” I breathed in rhythm with those words at each contraction, hoping to steady myself and give my baby a steady and joyful start. So far, I feel like it worked!  I fully intend to tell every pregnant person I meet that they should join your prenatal yoga classes!
{Susan}

This class is relaxing, informative, and fun! Sarah is very knowledgeable and creates a supportive environment to practice yoga.  She always has great tips and suggestions for relieving pregnancy aches and pains. One of the best parts of class is the check-in at the start of each session which is like a mini-support group. Would definitely recommend this class to anyone at any stage of pregnancy!
{Margie}

Sarah has a radiant, warm, knowledgeable and nurturing presence to the mamas in class. As a mother herself, she truly understands the nature of this incredible transition, and clearly has a genuine calling to support and serve new mamas and families. What a great resource for the lovely ladies of Syracuse!
{Camille Mulchi, MotherWise YOGA} 

The Couples Yoga for Birth workshop was a wonderful opportunity to connect with my baby and my doula. It was a uniquely calming and reassuring way to nurture those relationships and get into the mindset of laboring and birthing, as a team.  The restorative effects on my mind and body continued for days. I highly recommend this class to all expectant mothers and their birthing partners. Thank you Sarah!  (I’m actually considering taking the class again with my husband in February if baby has not yet arrived!)
{Nicole}

Day to day life can be so busy, especially with a new baby on the way. In her Couples Yoga for Birth Workshop, Sarah led the group in two joyful hours of partner yoga that was expertly designed to help us connect with one another and the spirit of our soon-to-be-born child. My husband and I made memories and learned relaxation skills that will help us in the birthing process and as a new family!
{Jeannine}

As a Doula, I found the "Partner Yoga for Birth" class to be an amazing way to open to and connect with the expectant mother. When we arrived to class, my partner (mother) was tense and anxious. I could feel her tension dissipating as class progressed. What a great way to bond! It is important for a mother to have some hands on time with her Doula, to build trust and comfort. A wonderful class that I would most definitely take again with future Mamas-to-be. I saw many glowing Papas leaving class night as well
{Teresa}

My husband and I are convinced that pre-natal yoga was, hands-down, the best preparation for our son's relatively quick and easy arrival. It prepared me physically and mentally for the task of giving birth naturally, and I don't think I could've done it without the practice of prenatal yoga.  The birth stories, the sisterhood, and the practice itself built my confidence and belief that I was more than capable of giving birth. I am so thankful for MamaBirth Yoga and the incredible support and encouragement Sarah provides to soon-to-be mothers through her practice/service.
{Rebecca}

Just wanted to stop by and let you know how much we enjoyed the Yoga for Birth workshop this past weekend! It was not only physically helpful, but my husband and I felt more connected and ready for birth spiritually as well! Thank you for offering this awesome workshop and helping us prepare for such a special time in our lives!
{Marina}